Separating mechanism for threshers



0d- 6, l942- w. R; DRAY I vSEPARATING MECHANISM FOR THRESHERS original Filed July. 1, -1935 2 sheets-snaai 1 :inventor attorney Oct. 6, 1942. w. R. DRAY SEPARATING MECHANISM P OR THRESHERS Original Filed July 1, 1935 2 SheetsHSheet 2 Snventor Patented Oct. 6, 1942 SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR THRESHERS Walter R. Dray, Kendall Township, Kendall County, Ill., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 1, 1935, Serial No.

1940, Serial No. 343,125

(Cl. 13G-25) 2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements of utility in threshing machines, including that class thereof generally known as harvesterthreshers or combines, and it has more particular relation to mechanism of utility in separating threshed grain or the like from straw or stalks during operation of the machine.

The present application is a division of applic'ants copending application, Serial No. 29,216, filed July 1, 1935.

This invention contemplates and has for an object thereof the provision of an improved design and construction of separating mechanism for use in a threshing machine and embodying a novel and improved construction of straw carrier.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved design and construction of separating mechanism including a shaking rack embodying cooperative elements adapted to act on the straw, and one f which elements is movable transversely of the other to impart a sidewise shaking motion to the straw or stalks as it advances along the separator during normal operation of the apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will be apparent from the description and accompanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment of features of the invention, and

will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental vertical sectional view of a harvester-thresher through the separating end thereof, embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental view in elevation of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the separating mechanism of the apparatus of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the plane of the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of details of the actuating mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in an extreme position; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a detail of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, wherein are shown parts of a harvester-thresher apparatus, such as is disclosed in applicants parent application' of travel of the apparatus, and carrying journals Divided and this application June 29,

for the supporting and traction wheels il. On the support I@ is mounted a supporting framework carrying a supporting and enclosing housing for the threshing mechanism and a housing l5 for the separating mechanism, the latter communicating with the discharge side of the housing for the threshing mechanism and extending transversely thereof. A grain storage bin it may be mounted on the frame forwardly of the separator housing l5.

A rotatable cylinder, indicated generally at 8|, comprises a plurality of spaced annular members or disks 83 with peripheral flanges thereon turned over at right angles to the planes of the disks, 'as indicated at 84. Secured to the peripheral flanges 84 of the disks 83 are a plurality of spaced thresher bars 85, preferably in the form of sections of angle iron, one flange portion of each bar being secured to the flanges 84 of the disks 83 and the other substantially radially extending flange portions of the thresher -bars serving as the active threshing elements of the cylinder. The threshing bars of the cylinder cooperate, during rotation of the latter, with the threshing elements of a stationary concave disposed below and in relatively close proximity to the cylinder.

The stalks and the threshed grain removed therefrom by the action of the threshing mechanism are forced rearwardly, across the full width of the threshing cylinder and housing therefor, into a separator housing l5, through the adjacent wall thereof; and the straw and grain are discharged from the cylinder housing with considerable force, due to relatively high speed of the cylinder and the fan effect thereof.

In order to maintain the separating mechanism of minimum length and to insure utilization of the separating action of the latter throughout its full length, one or more guiding bafes |32 curving toward the forward end of the separator housing 'are shown mounted on and depending from the roof of the separator housing into the path of material projected upwardly and rearwardly from the threshing cylinder. l These baffles 102 preferably extend to gradually increasing distances transversely of the separating chamber, and may be of gradually increasing height, toward the discharge end of the separator housing, in order to secure the desired baffling and guiding effect. The material discharged from the cylinder housing strikes these baffles and is guided thereby toward the forward end of the separator housing and drops down on the adjacent end portion of the separating mechanism, permitting utilization of the separating action of the latter on the straw throughout the full length of the separator.

The forward end wall of the separating housing I5 may be provided with a transversely extending baffle |0211 extending across substantially the full portion of the width of the housing and extending downwardly at an angle. This baffle |02a serves to deflect onto the forward end of the separating mechanism grain and straw particles projected against the forward end wall, thus preventing pieces of straw from passing downwardly between the end of the rack and the adjacent wall of the separator housing. This baiile |02 may be mounted on a portion of this end wall which is hinged or otherwise removably secured in pesition, so as to permit, on removal of the detachable portion, inspection of the rack and discharge` portions of the threshing cylinder housing.

The separator housing I5 is provided with devices for shaking the straw and recovering threshed grain therefrom, these devices including a straw shaking rack extending the full length and approximately the full width of the separator housing. The straw rack includes a frame |03, comprising longitudinal side members and connecting bars at the ends thereof, and is of dimensions approximating the inner dimensions of the separator housing.

This rack is provided with a series of spaced slats extending transversely of the length of the housing and carried by the frame |03. As indicated, these slats are arranged in two series, the slats |04 of one series alternating with the slats |05 of a second series. The slats of the rst series are secured to one or another set of spaced longitudinally extending tie bars |06, each set corresponding in position to one of two relatively inclined sections of the rack and are connected at suitable intervals to flanges or projections on the inner side walls of the frame |03, so that these slats, with their tie bars or rods |06, constitute a unitary structure with the frame |03. Slats |05 of the second series may be of somewhat smaller cross section than the slats |04 and are mounted on one or the other series of parallel tie bars |01, the slats of this second series, with the two sets of longitudinally extending bars |01 constituting two slatted frames assembled with the slats |05 disposed in spaces between adjacent slats |04 of the first series and secured to the longitudinal tie Ibars |01 and resting on the upper sides of the tie bars |06 of the first series of slats.

With this arrangement, it will -be apparent that the slats |05 of each of the second series of slats may be moved as a unit relative to the slats |04 of the first series. The desired normal position of the two series of slats is such that slats |05 occupy positions in the middle of the spaces between adjacent slats |04 of the rst series, thus providing openings of the same size between the slats of the two series throughout, this arrangement being satisfactory for handling the straw or stalks of most crops.

The several series of slats |04 and |05 may be held in the above described adjusted position by securing one or more slats |0511 of -both sets of this series to one or more of the tie rods |01 of the other series of slats by means of one or more removable pins or screws |09, as indicated.

While it is desirable to have relatively small openings between adjacent slats of the rack and thus avoid having pieces of straw pass through the rack along with the grain, still, in handling certain crops, particularly such as have relatively Srl large stalks, portions of these stalks are likely to enter the spaces between adjacent slats and to become wedged therein, thus irnpeding the free flow or advance of straw along the rack and the passage of threshed grain through the openings in the rack. On removal of the securing pins or screws |09, the frames made up of the slats |05 and tie rods |01 may -be moved as units to bring the slats |05 toward and into engagement with -adjacent slats |04, in which position they may be secured, with the securing pins or screws |09 Apassing through holes I09a in the tie rods |06, thus providing approximately one-half as many openings through the rack as are indicated in Fig. 3, lbut these openings being of considerably greater size, thus avoiding any clogging that might result from large stalks that might otherwise become wedged in the smaller openings of the rack.

As indicated, the slats |05 may `be omitted at a point intermediate the length of the rack adjacent the intersection of the two relatively inclined sections thereof and also adjacent the forward end of the rack, where this end of the frame is inclined upwardly from the body portion of the rack. At these points, the xed slats |04 which are definitely positioned with respect to the fra-me are spaced apart the same distance as the normal spacing of the slats |04 and |05 throughout the body portion of such rack, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The rack is mounted in operative position to provide for the desired oscillating or shaking motion through a link or set of links II2 pivoted to the forward end of the frame |03 and the end wall of the separator housing, and through oscillating shaking arms or levers ||3, one at each side of the separator housing, mounted on journal pins ||4 carried by the housing. The upper ends of these shaking levers ||3 are connected to pins I|5 on the outer side walls of the frame |03 and passing through arcuate slots ||6 in the side walls of the housing. With the rack mounted or swung on the rear supporting links I I2 and the upper ends of the shaking arms I I3, the rack as a whole is given the desired vibrating or shaking motion through oscillation of the shaking arms I I3.

In order to augment the normal separating action of the straw rack, auxiliary shaking devices are provided, in the form of a plurality of longitudinally extending and spaced shaker arms ||8, these arms being disposed above and adjacent the upper surface of the rack slats, and preferably slightly spaced from the latter, the upper edges of these arms being serrated in such fashion as to assist in advancing any straw resting thereon toward the discharge end of the separator housing, and the arms being inclined toward each other in the direction of travel of the straw. The discharge ends of the shaker arms are preferably provided with upwardly extending tail like projections IISa, the raised discharge ends of these projections being considerably spaced from the Ibody of the straw rack so that as the straw is moved over these extensions, it is free to drop through space onto the body of the rack.

These shaker arms I8 have a lateral motion across the rack about pivotal points, in a fashion corresponding to the movement of a iishs tail. As indicated, the shaker arms are pivoted or hinged, as indicated at H9, to the forward edges of Abars or arms |20 secured to certain of the transverse slats or bars |04 carried by the rack frame, as Iby angle irons |2I, |23 secured to a side wall of each bar and to a slat or bar |04 of the rack. The upper edges of these bars I2!) are inclined upwardly gradually from the level of the upper surfaces of the rackslats to the level of the rear edge of the upper surface of the shaker arms H8. While each of the shaker arms ||8 has its own motion about its pivotal point IIS, the two arms are secured together for common movement. This attachment may be through Ibrackets |24 secured to the side of each arm and having a flat plate at its lower side, to each of which at the under side thereof a connecting bar is pivotally attached.

The desired sidewise oscillation of the shaker arms I|8 is secured through a linkage utilizing the shaking motion of the rack itself as a power source. A link |25 is pivotally connected to an intermediate point on the connecting bar |525 and to a slat or cross bar Iiiia of the rack. A link |21 is pivotally connected at one end to the end of the link I attached to connecting bar |25 and at its other end to the inner end of a rod |28 extending longitudinally beneath the rack to the discharge end thereof, the other end of the rod |2 being fixed in position as by being attached to a pin |29 definitely secured to the side wall of the separator housing l5. Another link ld is secured at one end to an intermediate point of the link |23 and at its other end to the inner end of the rod |28.

As the rack receives oscillating movement longitudinally of its length, the arms |i8, the connecting bar |25 and the slat |840, partake of this same movement. However, due to the fact that the inner end of the rod |28 is fixed against longitudinal movement, the ends of the links |21 and i3d which are attached to the rod |23 must remain fixed against longitudinal movement, and the incidental angular motion of the links I2? and I3@ about the end of the rod |23 causes the link |25 to move angularly about its point of attachment to the slat Iilda. This angular motion of the link |26 causes the connecting bar |25 to move in the general direction of its length and relative to the rack, and thus to oscillate the shaker arms H8 transversely across the rack, in addition to partaking of the normal oscillatory movement of the rack. The required transverse movement of the inner end of the rod |28 to which the links |21 and I3!! are attached, may be provided through limited pivotal movement of such rod on its pin |29, or merely through resilience of the rod |28 which is held in position only at its outer end.

In the normal operation of the apparatus, n

straw and grain threshed therefrom, through the action of the threshing mechanism, are fed or blown by the latter into the separator housing, being deposited upon the forward end thereof. Through the normal shaking action of the rack, this straw and grain are advanced rearwardly along the rack, that is, in the direction of discharge from the separator housing, the grain, along with relatively short pieces of straw falling through the spaces between the rack slats as the straw is advanced. The straw advancing along the rack through the normal oscillatory movement thereof, or at least the greater portion of the straw, will advance or ride upon the serrated upper edges of the supporting bars We passage of threshed grain or seeds through the straw. Further, in addition to lifting the straw mass and rendering it less dense, these shaker arms, through their independent oscillating movement very effectively break up and agitato the straw masses so as to insure a maximum removal and recovery of grain. The straw continues to advance over the pivoted shaker arms and the rack and to the discharge end of the rack, and it is forced over the discharge end directly into the eld or is conveyed through a suitable rigid or exible conveyer to a desired point of discharge.

During operation of the straw rack, threshed grain and some chai dropping through the spaces between the slats IM, m5, fall onto the bottom plate |32 of the separator housing, and onto a plate i3d secured to the side walls of the housing adjacent the discharge end thereof. A grain drag or rake |35 of conventional design is provided within the separator housing below the straw rack, this drag or rake including a pair of endless chains one at each side of the housing and passing over driving sprockets on a driving shaft |36 and over sprockets at the front end of the housing mounted on a shaft |31, with spaced transverse raking bars |38 extending between and connecting the chains.

The sprockets for the grain drag are so disposed relative to the bottom wall |32 of the separator housing and the plate ld that the upper course of the drag brushes over the upper surface of the plate |34 and the lower course of the drag brushes over the upper surface of the bottom wall |32 of the housing. Hence, grain falling on the plate |34 is carried forwardly along the plate by the movement of the grain drag and drops off the forward edge of the plate, all or a portion falling onto the rear edge of the bottom wall |32 of the housing. And all of the grain falling onto the bottom wall |32 of the housing is carried by the drag to the rear edge of the bottom wall where it is brushed off into a discharge pan or chute ifi!) whence it is free to discharge by gravity to a fanning or cleaning device |4I.

The cleaning device Il|| may be of the fanning mill type and is disposed in a housing |42 depending from the separator housing and open to the latter housing below the plate i3d. The cleaning device comprises a frame |43 in which is mounted a plurality of superposed and spaced and preferably removable screens |45 whose normal position is such that the discharge ends of the screens are inclined upwardly to a slight extent from the horizontal plane. Grain and short pieces of straw passing through the rack flow from the discharge chute Mii onto the forward portion of the upper screen. a depending baille |45 mounted at the under side of the plate I 3d being disposed beyond the discharge end of the chute Mi) to prevent material from being` blown or thrown toward the discharge end of the screen.

The cleaning device is suspended through one or more links IM pivotally attached to the rear portion of the frame |43 and the side walls of the housing and pins |48 on the sides of the frame passing through arcuate slots |49 in the housing and pivotally mounted in bearing portions |50 on the shaking arms or levers I I3. As the shaking arms I I3 oscillate during operation, this oscillatory or shaking motion is imparted, through the pins |48, to the cleaning device and the screens thereof. Through the shaking motion of the screens, threshed grain passes through one after another of the superposed screens, falling onto the bottom wall of the housing |42, the latter constituting a grain receiving pan having portions sloping downwardly toward the center to a well |52 which constitutes the casing or housing for a transversely extending screw conveyer |53.

Ventilating means are provided for assisting in the separating and cleaning action of the cleaning device. This Ventilating or air supplying means includes a fan |56 of conventional form mounted on a shaft |51 and disposed within a casing |58 integral with or carried by the separator housing. 'I'he inlet to the fan is in an axial direction, i. e., through the ends of the casing, and the discharge is substantially tangential through a conduit or passage |59, preferably of substantially rectangular cross section, discharging into the housing |42 of the cleaning device at the forward ends of the screens. The discharge from the fan is controllable as to volume of air passed therethrough by a valve device disposed in the discharge passage. This valve device is in the form of two complementary wickets or leaves |62 fixed on operating shafts or spindles |63, |64 adjacent the upper and lower edges of the passage. These wicket valve sections |62 are preferably of the design disclosed and described in the hereinabove mentioned parent application; and in closed position they lie in substantially the same plane transversely of the discharge passage. The two wickets may be actuated simultaneously to desired position, to provide any desired degree of opening therethrough, through meshing gear segments |63a and |64a on the shafts |63 and |64 and a suitable common actuating lever.

During the operation of the apparatus and under the eiect of the shaking motion of the cleaning screens and the current of air discharged by the fan |56 across the screens, dust and dirt are blown away through the discharge from the separator housing, and the clean grain passes through the screens. straw and unthreshed grain heads pass over the rake |66 extending from the rear edge of the upper shaking screen to the discharge from the separator housing. Most of the unthreshed or partly threshed heads are recovered by reason of these heavier particles dropping through the tines of and from the rake into the housing |61 of the screw conveyer |68 having an operating shaft |69, the lighter straw particles and chaff being carried, through the shaking motion and under the influence of the air blast, to the discharge from the separator housing.

As the threshed grain drops through the several superposed screens, the shaking action thereof, in conjunction with the air blast, is effective to carry any grain bearing tailings over the rear edge of the screens whence they drop into the casing of conveyer |68.

The opposite end of the conveyer housing |61 communicates, at the farther side of the separator housing, with the housing |1| of an inclined bucket elevator or conveyer |12, in the form of a iiexible belt or chain passing over a driving pulley or sprocket mounted on the end of the shaft |69 of the conveyer |68 and over a sprocket or pulley mounted at the upper end of the elevator housing |1|.

The upper end of the elevator housing is provided with a discharge spout |13 which discharges material to the feed inlet |14 of a secondary The larger particles of L cleaning device comprising a longitudinally extending housing in front of the separator housing. The secondary cleaner, or recleaner, is mounted on oscillating links, indicated at |so as to permit shaking the recleaner device by a pitman rod |86 connected to a link |85 and the shaking lever ||3, at the connection ||5.

The grain falling into the housing |52 of the conveyer |53 is conveyed by the latter and through an extension |81 of the housing |52, this extension being formed beneath or integral with the inclined bottom wall |88 of the grain receiving bin I6. At its discharge end, this conveyer housing |81 communicates with the lower end of the housing |89 of a bucket or like elevating conveyer |9|, the communicating portion of the housing |81, indicated at |99, being disposed at the forward edge of the bin I6 and supported by the bottom of the bin. The body portion of the conveyer housing is preferably arranged within and supported by the bin, and the upper end of the housing of the elevating conveyer is preferably provided with a suitable spout arrangement for discharging the grain to the bin or other receptacle. This conveyer is actuated by a driving shaft |92.

Power for operating the various mechanisms of the apparatus may be derived from a power source or shaft suitably supported on the frame and which may be connected in driving relation to the shaft |54 of the screw conveyer |53.

Power is supplied from the rear end of the shaft |54, through a drive, indicated in Fig. 2, including a V-belt 246 cooperating with a V- pulley 24| on the shaft |54, a V-pulley 242 on the shaft |69 of the conveyer |68, a V-pulley 243 on the shaft |51 of the fan |56 and a V- pulley 245 on the driving shaft |36 of the grain drag |35, this driving connection serving to drive the conveyer |68 and the driving pulley or sprocket of the elevating conveyer |12, the fan |56, and the grain drag, all in the desired direction of rotation, with but one crossing turn, indi.- cated at 241, of the belt. An adjustable idler pulley 248 is mounted on the side wall of the separator housing and serves to establish the desired driving tension on the belt 246; and through an operating lever 249 on which the shaft of idler pulley 248 is mounted, the tension of the belt may be adjusted or wholly relieved, as when the apparatus is to be out of operation for some time, or when it is desired to use the elevating conveyer |9| merely for the purpose of emptying the grain bin to a side wagon.

The shaft |36 is provided at each end thereof with an eccentric connection to pitmans 25|, one at each side of the separator housing, the other end of these pitmans being connected to the lower ends of the shaker arms H3 which impart the desired shaking movement to the grain rack and the cleaning device |4l, and, through the pitman rod |86, to the Secondary cleaner. The sheave 245 may be used as a portion of one of these eccentric connections to the adjacent pitman 25|.

The elevating conveyer |9| in the grain bin is driven by a V-pulley or sprocket 254 on the driving shaft |92 of the conveyer and drivingly cennected to a corresponding pulley or sprocket 256 on the forward end of the drive shaft |54.

The diameters of the various driving and driven pulleys are so selected as to give the clesired normal speeds of rotation to the driven shafts. Further adjustment of the speeds of the individual driven shafts may be secured through the use of V-groove pulleys of known design wherein provisions are made for adjusting the width of the space between the side walls of the belt groove, thus permitting the driving belt to sink to variable distances in the groove and thereby providing at will a considerable range of effective pitch diameters of the sheaves.

It should be understood that features and operating effects of the invention disclosed hereinabove have definite commercial applications and utility other than in the particular apparatus described or in the specific combinations with various other features defined in the claims, and the invention is to be considered as embracive of these various applications and utilities. And it is not desired that the invention be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described herein for obvious modifications may occur to persons skilled in the art.

`It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a harvester-thresher, a separator mechanism comprising a shaking straw carrying rack having a portion disposed in position to receive material after discharge thereof from a threshing mechanism and having a to and fro motion for advancing said material along the rack, said rack comprising a plurality of spaced transversely extending bars distributed along the length of said rack, a pair of spaced bars mounted in position on said rack and extending in the direction of advance of material thereon and with the lower edge of said spaced bars adjacent the upper face of a portion of said transverse bars of the rack, said pair of bars being of gradually increasing height toward the rear end thereof, an arm pivotally mounted on an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the upper face of the rack adjacent the rear end of each of said longitudinally extending bars and extending in substantial prolongation thereof toward the discharge end of said rack, said arms and said bars partaking of the to and fro motion of said rack, and the upper faces of said bars and arms being serrated to advance material thereon toward the rear end of said rack during to and fro motion thereof along with said rack, and means for oscillating said pivoted arms transversely of the general direction of travel of said material along said rack during their to and fro motion with said rack.

2. In a harvester-thresher, a separator mechanism comprising a shaking straw carrying rack having a portion disposed in position to receive material after discharge thereof from a threshing mechanism and having a to and fro motion for advancing said material along the rack, said rack comprising a plurality of spaced transversely extending bars distributed along the length of said rack, a pair of spaced elements mounted in position on the upper side of said rack and extending in the direction of advance of material thereon and with the lower edge of said spaced elements adjacent the upper face of a portion of said transverse bars of the rack, said pair of spaced elements being of gradually increasing height at their forward portion from the forward end thereof toward the rear end thereof, each of said spaced elements comprising a pivotally mounted arm having its pivotal axis adjacent its forward end, with said axis extending substantially perpendicular to the upper face of said rack, said spaced elements partaking of the to and fro motion of said rack, and the upper faces of said elements being serrated throughout substantially the full length thereof to advance material thereon toward the rear end of said rack during to and fro motion thereof along with said rack, and means for oscillating said pivoted arms transversely of the general direction of travel of said material along said rack during their to and fro motion with said rack.

WALTER R. DRAY. 

